Mustangs boys hoops is a totally different team this season.

And Dezmond James, new to the team this year, is one of the “big” reasons for that.

James, a junior with Ponderosa High School boys basketball, came to Colorado from northern Virginia, near Washington, D.C., in August 2010. He played his sophomore year of basketball at Lewis-Palmer in Monument and came to Ponderosa for this season, where he is a shooting guard standing 6-feet, 4 inches.

Through 11 games, James is Ponderosa’s scoring leader with nearly 200 points to his credit, averaging more than 17 per game.

Along with teammates Jonathan Branes, a junior who leads the team in blocked shots, and senior Derek Scheuerman, James is also one of the Mustangs’ top rebounders. Scheuerman and James also lead in the steals statistic.

With James fitting into Ponderosa’s system, the Mustangs have had the lowest negative stats in almost 20 years.

“He works hard,” Ponderosa coach Mike Gibbs said. “He gets his teammates motivated, and he’s a very coachable kid.”

James’ aggression is one way he stands out among his peers, the coach said. The junior is known to play a physical game, not common in high school players his size, especially being a 6-4 shooting guard.

His speed is also a help.

“He’s quick and athletic on defense,” Gibbs said. “That helps us defend those quicker guards and shooters. Offensively, he’s definitely a scoring threat but also a great passer. He can get the ball to his teammates, as well.”

Gibbs said the team’s record coming into Continental League competition was indicative of players not throwing the ball away and having better ball security.

“Dezmond is a big part of that,” the coach said.

James started playing hoops at the age of 3 in a basketball family that found both his older brother and sister on the court. His father, Raymond James, played for the Air Force Academy, where he graduated in 1990.

The Ponderosa junior was originally born in Germany, where his father was stationed. A couple months later the family was in Portugal and landed stateside a few months after that.

Having come from an East Coast style of basketball, James said he quickly had to make an adjustment to Colorado ball.

“Basketball in Colorado is a lot different than the East Coast in speed and style of play,” James said. “The East Coast is more flashy. Here, it’s more slowed down and there’s more play running. ... It was kind of a challenge to adjust.”

But adjust he did, and now James continues to grow his strength as a playmaker, refusing to be one-dimensional.

“I can get the team points, but I can find the open man, too,” he said. “I can bring up the ball when we need to and initiate the action.”

James feels the chemistry on Ponderosa is solid and that players hang out with each other off the court. He said the camaraderie gives the players a better understanding of each other when they are on the boards.

Although colleges are eyeing James, the junior hasn’t settled on anything yet.

“All my options are open right now,” James said.

He said he wouldn’t mind going to school and continue his hoops career on either coast, but essentially his destination doesn’t matter. Although James is definitely looking to play the courts in college, he isn’t sure if the pros are in his future yet.

“It’s not my first choice to go pro, but if the opportunity presents itself, I’m not going to let it slide whether it’s here or overseas,” James said.

Off the court, the junior is mild-mannered, Gibbs said.

“Teachers always compliment on how he is in class and how well behaved he is,” the coach said. “People love his personality. He’s a good kid on and off the court.

“He’s a legitimate player and a collegiate prospect. Overall, he’s a great player and helping the team to do well.”

One moment which signifies the kind of player James is reputed to be came during nonconference action against Harrison. The Mustangs were down by five points, and the senior rallied his teammates during a timeout. He told them to relax and pick the game up, because there was plenty of time, Gibbs said.

“It was a sign of leadership,” the coach said. “We came back and won by six points.”